Envelope-sealing machine



April 7, 1931- A. J. KEISER 1,799,820

ENVELOPE SEALING MACHINE Filed May 8, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet l mv NTORATTORNEY- April 7, 1931. A. J. KEISER ENVELOPE SEALING MACHINE Filed May8, 192 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEwR ATTORNEYS APril 1931- A. J. KEISER I1,799,820

ENVELOPE SEALING MACHINE Filed May 8, 192 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS April 7, 1931.

A. J. KEISER ENVELOPE SEALI NG MACHINE Filed May 8, 192

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 lNVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 7, 1931 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE ARTHUR :r. nurses, or. nocnnsrnn, NEW vonx, Assmnoa ro'rnn 3m co., rue,

or nocnnsrna, new YORK L ncaaommea may a,

The present invention relates. to envelope sealing machines. An objectof the invention isto provide means for distort ng the flap of anenvelope to lift the flap with reference to the body of the envelope sothat a moistening device may pass between the fla and the body of theenvelope. Another a n further object of the invention is to provide afeeding means for carrying an envelope past a moistening device, therebeing arranged to one side of the feeding means a space or depression inwhich the body of the envelope may drop'in order to separate the body ofthe envelope'from the flap.so that the moistening device may be passedbetween the flap and the body of the envelope. Still another and furtherobject of the invention is to provide a feeding element for carrying anenvelo e past a moistener, said feeding element being arranged to oneside of a space to which the body of the envelope may drop and therebeing provided a separator deflected downwardly over the space so as topress the body of the envelope down into the space and deflect the flapof the envelope over the moistenin device as the envelope moves underthe action of the feeding member. Still another object of the inventionis to provide a sealing element which impinges the flap of the envelopeat spaced points after the flap has been moistened, so as to cause theflap to adhere to the body of the envelope. Still another object of theinvention is to provide a feeding mechanism which will cause theenvelope to maintain a straight line of movement after passing themoistening device. Another and further object of the invention is toprovide a moistening device which is definitely held against movementtoward the feeding means beyond a certain point, but which is adapted toyield away from the feeding means to accommodate thick envelopes. Stillanother, object of the invention is to provide a moistening device whichis adjustable with reference to the feeding means so that differentsized spaces between the feeding means and the moistening device may beobtained. Still another object of the invention is to provide incombination 1928. Serial No. 107,759.

with a feeding and a moistening device a separating tongue extendingrearwardly from the moistening device and deflected downwardly, saidmoistening device being ad ustable to shift the deflected end of thetongue toward and from the flap edge of an and in which the feedingmeans is yieldable in order to accommodate envelopes of differentthicknesses. v

To these and other ends, the invention consists of certain partsand.combinations of parts, all of which will be hereinafter described,the novel features being pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

be accommodated. Still another "ob- Fig. 1 is a plan view of a machineconstructed in accordance with this invention, with parts broken awayand the receiving chute removed;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the machine with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is another plan view showin the receiving chute in position andenve opes being fed through the machine;

Fig. 4 is a view of the side of the machine opposite that shown in Fig.2;

Fig. 5 is an end view of the machine;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal vertical section through the machine on theline 6-6, Fig. 1;

gig. 7 is a section on the line 77, Fig. 1; an

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the manner in which theenvelopes have their flaps distorted before being passed ozer themoistening device.

Referring more particularlyto the illustrated embodiment of theinvention, 1 indicates the base frame which, in this instance,

is of hollow formation having a top portion 2 formed integrallytherewith, said frame being provided with an opening extending from oneend to the other which is substantially closed by a removable coverplate 3 secured in place by screws 4. This cover plate at the intake endof the machine is in a plane with the top portion 2 and near the centerhas a downwardly deflected portion 5 which leads to an inclined portion6. This inclined portion 6 declines laterally with reference to the feedthrough the machine,-

its inner and outer edges being substantially parallel with said feed,but in different horizontal planes.

The envelopes 7 to be fed through the machine are arranged in a stackerat the intake end of the machine. In this instance, this stacker isformed by two vertical plates 8 and 9, the plate 8 being rigidly securedby screws 10 substantially aligned with the inner edge of the topportion 2 of the base 1, while the plate 9 is parallel with the plate 8and is adjustable toward and from the plate 8 to accommodate in thestacker envelopes of different widths. Between the two vertical walls ofthe stacking device a bottom plate 11 is arranged which has its lowerend in an inclined plane with reference to the removable cover plate 3,beneath it, being secured at its forward end at 12 to the removablecover plate and havin its central portion supported in an inclinedposition by a bracket 12 which is secured to the bottom wall 11. Alsosecured to the bottom wall 11 is a guide 13 which receives a guidingmember 14 projecting laterally from the wall 9 and frictionally engagingthe walls of the guide 13 to hold the wall or plate 9 differentdistances from the plate 8 to accommodate envelopes of different widths.Supported by the wall 8 is the front wall 15 of the stacker. This frontwall is vertically arranged except that its lower end 16 is defiectedforwardly in the direction of the feed, the lower edge of the lower endbeing spaced from the bottom wall 11 in order to provide a dischargeopening through which the envelopes may move from the stacker under theaction of feeding devices to be described.

In order that the envelopes may be held in an inclined position withinthe stacker, with their forward ends lower than their rear ends, aninclined shelf 17 is arranged above the bottom wall 11 and is adjustableover said bottom wall in the direction of feed of the envelopes. Thisadjustment is secured by supporting the inclined shelf on a supportingmember 18 which has a guide extension 19 at its lower end operating in aguide member 20 on the under side of the bottom wall 11 of the stacker.By adjusting this inclined shelf 17 backward and forward, theinclination of the envelopes may be changed and, at the same time,envelopes of different lengths may be held at the proper angles withinthe stacker.

For feeding the envelo es from the stacker, there is em loyed a eedingmechanism comprising, in t is instance, a shaft 21 which is supported bythe base member 1 below the inclined bottom wall of the stacker, saidbottom wall having an opening 22 directly above the shaft and in advanceof the vertical end wall 15. On this shaft 21 is supported a wheel 23having a periphery 24 of rubber or other material having a highcoeflicient of friction. The shaft also supports a grooved pulley 25around which passes a belt 26 which also passes about a grooved pulle 27on a shaft 28 in advance of the stacker. 27 is smaller in diameter thanthe pul ey 25 and has its shaft in a horizontal plane below the shaft 21of the pulley 25 so that the effective portion of the feeding belt 26travels forwardly in a downward direction, the plane of travel beingsubstantially parallel with the bottom 11 of the stacker, but therecessed end being in a slightly higher plane than the bottom of thestacker so that the effective portion of the belt 26 is in a position toenga the forward edges of the envelopes in t e stacker to move suchenvelopes out of the stacker and forwardly therefrom. By having thewheel 23 to one side of the feeding belt 26, a straight ull is obtainedon the bottom of the enve ope so that it is maintained in a straightline while moving from the stacking device. The vertical plane of theendless belt is spaced from the vertical plane of the wall 8 of thestacker so that the envelope is engaged at one side of its longitudinaledge while the walls 8 and 9 of the stacker act as a guide, both beingextended forwardly beyond the front vertical wall 15 and preferably to apoint beyond the axis of the shaft 28 and the pulley 27. Even after theforward ends of the envelopes pass from these walls 8, the guidingaction of the walls is continued until the envelopes pass out betweenthe walls. After an envelope is withdrawn from the stacker by thefeeding belt e ulley' 26, it passes to another feeding device whichdischarge end of the feeding belt 26. The

belt 29 has its effective portion passing horizontally to a pulley 31.The advantage for having the feeding device 29 travel faster than thefeeding device or belt 26 is that the envelopes in some instances passfrom the stacker in slightly overlapping relation, one

in advance of another and when the feeding device 29 is reached, thelower envelope is given a greater speed and withdrawn from under thenext envelope so that it travels b itself or singly while moving withthe fee j ing device 29. r

While the envelope is travelling with the feedin belt 29, it ismoistened, tlns moistening being effected by a moistening mechanismcomprising, in this instance, an arm 32 having one end free and' lyingover the feed-.

ing device 29, the feeding device lying in a vertical plane on the innerside of the feeding device 26 with its receiving end close to the guideplate 8. At the time that the moistening device operates on the envelopeand while the belt or feeding device 29 is moving the same, the oppositeends of the envelope drops into the depression formed at edge before themoisteningdevice is reached,

thus tending to separate the body of the envelope from the flap. Thisseparation is increased by a means to be hereinafter described so thatthe moistening device is insured of being passed between the uppermostface of the body of the envelope and the underface of the flap of theenvelope. In order to still further insure this separation, a separatingblade or fin 33 which preferably projects rearwardly from the moisteningde vice has its free. end deflected upwardly at 34. This fin also has adownwardly deflecting portion 35 on the side toward the feeding belt,the edge 36 of this downwardly deflected portion being inclined to thedirection of travel of the envelope. The main part of this downwardlydeflected portion 35.

operates in a plane slightly below the upper surface of the feeding belt29 and to one side of the latter, so that it tends to engage theuppermost face of the envelope to oneside of the pointed forward end ofthe flap and depress the envelope body downwardly with reference to' theflap so as to facilitate the entrance or the guiding of the fin 33between the flap and the body of the envelope. An additional finger 37may be provided on the moistening arm 32 to one side of the guiding fin33 for the purpose of holding down the edge of the envelope opposite theflap edge, in order that the latter may not accidentally cooperate withthe moistening arm 32.

With the end in view of still further-separating the forward end of theflap from the adjacent face of the body of the envelope and, at the sametime to assist in the separation of the envelopes as they pass from thestacking device, there is employed a rotary member having a centralcylindrical periphery 38 which cooperates with the feeding belt 26 inimmediate proximity to the outlet from the stacker, so that thisrotarydportion 38 will press on the envelope imme ately after it as beendragged from the stacker by the feeding belt 26 and hold the envelope infeeding relation to the belt 26. This member also has two cylindricalportions 39 and 40.which have greater diameters than the cylindricalportion 38 and cooperate with the upper face of the flap of the envelopeon opposite sides of the cylindrical portion 38. The portion 39 has ametallic milled or knurled surface,

while the portion 40 has a frictional produc-,

ing surface preferably formed by a rubber rlng.

The combined distorting or separating member has its periphery moving ina direction opposite to the direction of movement of the belt 26,and theknurled or milled surface 39 acts onthe envelopes after they pass fromthe stack to kick back or retard the envelopes so that they pass fromthe combined separating and distorting device one in advance of theother, but, in some instances, in slightly overlapping relation. Thecentral portion of this combined retarding and distorting devicecooperates with the belt 26 and assists said belt in the feeding of theenvelope notwithstanding the fact that the parts are rotating inopposite directions, due to the fact that it imposes a pressure on theflap to hold it against the feeding belt 26. The friction producingportion 40 operates between the feeding belt and the wall 8 and hasnothing opposing it on the under side of the envelope so that itproduces a dragging or drawing action on the flap, causing the forwardend of the flap to be pulled or distorted upwardly with reference to theadjacent face of the body of the envelope, as shown in Fig. 8 of thedrawing, thus further insuring the separation of the flap from the bodyof the envelope when the envelope .reaches the separator in front of themoistening device. In other words, when the forward end of the flapreaches the separator, the distorting device is still acting on the rearend of the flap. At the same time, the edge of the envelope oppositetheflap has dropped into the depression in the top of the main frame, sothat this dropping of the edge of the envelope with the distorting ofthe flap by the distorting device and the pressing down of the bottom ofthe envelope by the separator positively insures the separation of theflap from the body of the envelope.

The moistening neans, in this instance, consists of a glass ortransparent cylindrical tube 41 having its ends engaged by two heads 42and 43 which are connected by tie bolts 44. The head 43 has a dependingtubular portion 45, the upper end of which is formed with a seat 46 fora ball valve 47. This depending tubular portion is removably fitted in asleeve 48, which projects upwardly from the top of a container 49, thelatter having a pin 50" i the container 41 enter the container 49. The

container 49 has a plate 50 depending therefrom. This plate issupported, in this instance, on three pins 51 projected laterally fromthe side of the base frame. Each of these pins is surrounded by ahelical spring 52 cooperating with one side of the plate 50 and carriesan adjusting nut 53 cooperating with the outer side of the plate 5Q. Themoistening arm 32 is of hollow formation and extends laterally from thecontainer 49, its free end being held in slightly spaced relation to thefeeding belt 29. The moistening arm 32 has a longitudinally extendingslot 54 and extending through the arm and exposed through this slot is awick of any suitable material which has its inner end depending into thecontainer 49 so that by capillary action, water from the container 49may keep that portion of the wick exposed through the slot 54 in a moistcondition. By adjusting the lower nut 53, the container may swing on theupper screws to shift the position of the free end of the arm withreference to the feeding belt 29 and by adjusting either of the nuts 53of the two upper screws, the angle of the arm with reference to the lineof travel of the envelopes may be changed. The lower sprlng 52 will inthe event of the passage of extremely large envelopes between themoistemng arm and the belt yield, but, in most instances, the belt 29,which is yieldable, yields to accommodate envelopes of different sizes.

The pulley 31 is arranged beyond the vertical plane of the moisteningdevice, so as to carry the envelopes beyond said moistening device. Inthis instance,'this pulley 3i is arranged to one side of a smoothcylindrical drum 55, the drum being greater in diameter than the pulleyso that the effective portion of the belt 29 passing over the pulley issubstantially in a plane with the surface of the drum. The opposite endof the drum is reduced and on this reduced portion is fitted. a yieldingring 56, the periphery of which is substantially in a plane with thesurface of the drum 55. This yielding ring picks up theenvelopes whichhave dropped into the depressed portion in the top of the frame ofthemachine after the envelope has passed beneath the moistening device,and working in cooperation with the drum and feeding belt feeds theenvelopes to a suitable receiving means.

For effecting the sealing of the envelope and, at the same time, toassist in the feeding of the envelope from the machine into a receivinghopper 57, there is provided, in this instance, two milled cylindricalrollers 58 and 59, the former of which lies directly above the yieldingring 56 while the latter lies directly above the pulley 31 so astocooperate with the portion of the belt 29 travelling over the pulley.These two cylindrical milled surfaces are, in this instance, connectedby a connecting piece 60 which has two surfaces 61 connecting the milledortions 58 and 59 in the plane of the peripheries of said milledportions and at two diametrically opposite points. This sealing andfeeding device turns, in this instance, on a shaft 62 which is supportedby an arm 63 from a stationary or non-rotatin spindle 64 eccentric tothe axis of turning o the combined sealing and feeding member. Thisarrangement permits the combined feeding and sealing device to rise andfall to accommodate envelopes of different thicknesses while, at thesame time, to have a tendency to move toward the envelope under theaction of gravity. The shaft 62 forming the axis of rotation of thecombined sealing and feeding device or member, as shown in Fig. 5, isarranged at a slight angle to the horizontal with its end adjacent thefeeding belt 29 in a slightly lower plane thanthe outer end, thuscausing the milled surface 59 to exert greater pressure on the envelopethan does the milled surface 58. The' shaft 62 is also arranged at aslight angle to a transverse vertical plane through the machine, its endadjacent the belt 29 being slightly in advance of the end adjacent thering 56.

Owing to the fact that the center of an envelope is, in most instances,thicker than the flap edge, if equal pressure were applied at bothpoints, then the tendency wouldbe to shift the envelope after it passesfrom the moistening device in one direction and that direction beingtoward the edge opposite the flap edge. As a consequence the flap withthe kicking of the envelope sidewise towards its edge opposite the flapedge will become creased and be laid upon the body of the 7 envelope inan improper manner, part of the flap being projected beyond the edge ofthe envelope due to such distortion. The double angular arrangement ofthe shaft of the combined sealing and feeding element tends tostraighten the envelope so that the envelope passes from the combinedsealing and feeding element in a straight line with its flap laidproperly upon the envelope. After the envelope passes the combinedsealing and feeding device, it is given two or more taps on itsmoistening flap at separated points and this forces the flap intointimate contact with the envelope at these points, at the same time,the other portions of the flap are drawn into engagement with theenvelope. Furthermore, the moistening liquid which has been applied tothe flap is retained by the flap and is not squeezed out as would be thecase if the envelopes were passed between two rollers. As a result whenthe envelopes areput together in a stack, there is no adhesive to oozeout beyond the edges of the flaps which would tend to cause theenvelopes to stick one to the other. The machine may be driven in anysuitable manner. In this instance, a motor 65 is arran within the baseframe 1 and has-a sha 66 extending to the exterior of the frame .whereit is rovided with a small pulley 67 about whic an endless drive belt 68asses. This drive belt also passesabout a arge pulley 69 on the shaft 28which suports the pulleys 27 and 30 so that the two eed belts 26 and 29respectively driven by said pulleys are turned both in the samedirection but at different speeds. Arranged on the shaft 28 is also asprocket wheel 69 about which a sprocket chain70 passes, said chainextending upwardly through an opening in the top of the casing andpassing about a sprocket wheel 71 on the shaft 72 which supports theenvelope distorting member38, 39 and 40, causing said member to have itsperiphery rotated in a direction opposite the direction of movement ofthe effective portion of the belt 26. This shaft 72 may be supported onan arm 73 which is mounted to swing upon the shaft 28. A spring 77secured'at one end to the main frame and at the other end to the armacts on said arm in,

a direction to hold the combined separating I and distorting device 38,39 and 40 toward the feeding belt 26. Preferably. the arm 73 carried anadjusting screw 78 which is adapted to cooperate with a stop 79 in orderto limit .the movement of the separating and distorting member towardthe belt. Bel ow the belt 26 and opposite the combined separating anddistorting member isarranged an idler 80 which turns on a stationaryshaft 81. This idler acts to prevent the distortion of the feeding belt26 by the combined separating and distorting members 38, 39 and 40. Thisarrangement permits the combined separating and distorting element toadapt itself 0 envelopes of different thicknesses, without, at the sametime, destroying the line of feed of the envelopes. That portion of thesprocket chain operating above the bed 2 may be enclosed within ahousing 74 which is remov-.

ably secured by screws to the top of the base frame 1, while the belt 68and the pulleys over which it asses are enclosed by a removable housingI 6 secured to the side of the base frame 1.

The operation of the invention will be un derstood from the foregoingdescription, but it may be summarized as follows:

The envelopes are placed in the feedimg.

stacker, their forward ends resting against the partition 15 and therear ends resting on the adjustable inclined support 17, the lowermostenvelopein the stack resting at its forward end against the rear portionof the feeding belt 26. When the machine is opervances under the actionof the feeding belt 26, it is caught by the feeding belt 29 which has aand a vances the envelope ahead of and sepaeater speed than the feedingbelt 26v rates it from the,next following envelope.

J ust about the time that the envelope is picked up by the feeding belt29, the ed e thereof opposite the flap edge drops into the pocket orrecess formed in the top of the main frame to one side of the feedinbelt. Before the envelope is released by the dlstorting device and whileits flap is-deflected or distorted upwardl under the action of thedistorting device, t e forward end of the flap is passed, above the searating device 33 which directs the flap o the envelo e above themoistening device 32 and the b0 y of the envelope below such moistenindevice. The separating device together wit the moistening devicecooperates with the body of the envelope in order to hold the lattertoward the feeding belt 29 'so that the latter exercises its feedingaction on the envelope, carrying the latter past the moistening device.After is received by the combined feeding and sealing device which notonly feeds the envelope into the hopper 57 but through the portions 61raps or hits the flap of the envelope on the outer face at spaced pointscausing the flap of the envelope not only to adhere at these points, butalso at the points between the impact points, due to the fact that theseintermediate polnts are drawn into intimate contact with the main bodyof the envelope at the same time that the impact points engage theenvelope. The combined feeder and sealer is so arranged that it tends tocause the envelope to travel in a straight path into the receivinghopper.

By mounting the separator 33 on the moistening arm so that it may beadjusted through the nuts 53 it is possible to shift the deflectedportion 35 toward and from the flap edge of an envelope passing throughthe machine and in. this way adapt the machine to envelopes having flapsof different widths and forms.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:i

1. The combination with feeding means for moving envelopes, of amoistening device to which the envelopes are moved by the feeding means,said moistening device being constructed and arranged to pass betweenthe of the envelope before it reaches the moistenmg device undertheaction of the feeding means to distort the fla in order to separatethe latter from the b0 y of the envelope so that the moistenin devicecan readily pass between the body 0 the envelo e and the flap.

2. The combmation with ceding means for feeding envelopes one at a time,of a moistening device to which the envelopes are fed by the feedingmeans and which is constructed and arranged to pass between the body ofan envelope and the flap of the latter, and means for producing adragging action on the flap as the latter is moved by the feeding meansto cause the flap to be distorted with reference to the body of theenvelope in order to insure the passage of the moistening device betweenthe flap and the body of the envelo 3. 1%: combination with feedingmeans for feeding envelopes one at a time, of a moistening device towhich the envelopes are fed by the feeding means and which isconstructed and arranged to pass between the body of an envelope and thefla of the latter, and means for producing a ragging action on the flapas the latter is moved by the feeding means to cause the flap to bedistorted with reference to the body of the envelope in order to insurethe passage of the moistenin device between the flap and the body of theenvelope, said dragging means embodying a roller havin its peripheryrotating in a direction opposite the direction of movement of thefeeding means.

4. The combination with a feeding belt of a width narrower than theenvelope to be fed through the machine and positioned to engage theenvelope passing through the machine at a point in spaced relation toboth longitudinal edges of said envelope, of a moistening device towhich the envelope is fed by the feeding belt, said moistening devicebeing constructed and arranged to pass between the body of the envelo eand the flap of the, latter, and a dragging evice arranged to engagewith the flap of the envelope on the feeding belt before the envelopereaches the moistenin device to distort the flap with reference to tiebody of the envelope in order to insure the passage of the moisteningdevice between the flap and the body of the envelope.

5. The combination with a feeding belt of a width narrower than theenvelope to be fed through the machine and positioned to engage theenvelope passing through the machine at a point in spaced relation toboth longitudinal edges of said envelope, of a moistening device towhich the envelope is fed by the feeding belt, said moistening devicebeing constructed and arranged to pass between the body of the envelopeand the flap of the latter, and a dra ging device arranged to engage theflaps of t e envelope on the feeding belt to one side of the latterbefore the envelope reaches the moistenin device to distort the flapwith reference to t e body of the envelope in order to insure thepassage of the moistening device between the flap and the body of theenvelope, said dragging device being in the form of a roller having itsperiphery rotating in a direction opposite to the direction of movementof the feeding belt, said periphery being formed of material having ahigh coeflicient of friction.

' 6. The combination with a feeding means embodying an endless belt, ofa stacker from which the envelopes are fed by the feeding belt, amoistenin device to which the envelopes are fed b the feeding means,said moistening device being constructed and arranged to pass betweenthe body of the envelope and the flap, and a combined retarder anddragging element operating on the envelopes after they pass from thestacker to separate the envelopes so that they pass one at a time to themoistening device and to engage with the flap of each envelope in orderto distort the same so as to insure the passage of the moistening devicebetween the flap and the body of the envelope.

7 The combination with a feeding means embodying an endless belt, of astacker from which the envelopes are fed by the feeding belt amoistening device to which the envelopes are fed by the feeding means,said moistening device being constructed and arranged to pass betweenthe body of the envelope and the flap, and a combined retarder anddragging element operating on the envelopes after they pass from thestacker to separate the envelopes so that they pass one at a time to themoistening device and to engage with the flap of each envelope in orderto distort the same so as to insure the passage of the moistening devicebetween the flap and the body of the envelope, said combined separatorand dragging element having its periphery rotating in a directionopposite the direction of movement of said feeding belt.

8. The combination with a stacker having a discharge opening, of afeeding means for moving the envelopes from the stacker and through themachine embodying an endless belt of less width than the envelopes andarranged to operate on an envelope in s aced relation to twolongitudinal edges 0 said envelope, a moistening device constructed andarranged to pass between the flap and the body of the'envelope moved bysaid feeding means, and a rotary member operating on the envelopes asthey pass from the stacker, said rotary member having its periphery r0-tating in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of saidfeeding belt and having two peripheral portions engaging the envelope onopposite sides of the feeding belt, one of said peripheral portionsbeing milled and the other of said peripheral portions bein e cient offriction and being positioned to engage the flap of the envelope toproduce a draggin action on the fla which will separate the orward endof t e flap from the body of the envelope to permit the moisteningdevice to pass between the flap and the body of the envelope.

9. The combination with a feeding mechanism having a feeding element ofless width than the envelopes fed thereby and arranged to cooperate w1than envelope near the ap edge thereof, of a moistening device arranged topass between the flap and the body of an envelope travellin with saidfeeding element, and means providing a space to one side of the feedingelement in which the body of an envelope may drop in'order to siparatethe body of the envelo e from the ap to facilitate the passage 0 themoistening device between the flap and the body of the envelope.

10. The combination with a stacker, of a feedin mechanism embodying afeeding element or moving the envelopes from the stacker and a feedingelement of less width than the envelopes arranged to engage theenvelopes adjacent their flap edges, and a moistening device for passingbetween the flap and the body of an envelope on said last mentionedfeeding device, and means for providing a space to one side of the lastnamed feeding device in which the body of the envelope may drop in orderto facilitate the passage of the moistening device between the flap andthe body.

11. The combination with an endless feeding element, of a moisteningdevice arranged to pass between the flap and the body of anenvelopewhile the latter is moved by the feeding element, and means forsupporting said moistening device in spaced relation to the feedingelement, said means having resilient devices therein, permitting themoistening device to move away from the feeding element but holding saidmoistening device with resilient pressure toward the feeding element.

12. The combination with a yielding feeding element, of a moisteningdevice arranged to pass between the flap and the body of an envelopewhile the latter is moved by the feeding element, and means forresiliently supporting the moistening device in spaced relation to thefeeding element, the feeding element yieldin to accommodate envelopes ofdifferent thic esses.

13. The combination with an endless feeding element and two pulleysabout which said endless feeding element passes, of a moistening devicearranged to pass between the flap and the body of the envelope, whilethe latter is moved by the feeding element, and means resilientlyholding said moistening device in spaced relation to thefeeding elementat a formed of material having a high 00-- point between the two pulleysso that the endless feeding element may y1eld to permit envelopes ofdifferent sizes to pass through the space between the moistening deviceand the endless feedin element.

14. The combination with a feeding mechanism having a feedin element ofless width than the envelope fe thereby and arran ed to cooperate withan envelope near the ap edge thereof, of a moistening device arranged topass between the flap and the body of the envelope travelling with saidfeeding element, means providing a space to one side of the feedingelement in which the body of an envelope may drop in order to separatethe body of the envelope from the flap t0 facilitate the passage of amoistening device between the flap and the body of the envelope, and aseparator having a portion deflected downwardly to one side of a feedingelement over said space to cooperate with the body of the envelope tomove the latter downwardly before the envelope reaches the moiseningdevice and with the flap to move the latter upwardly to cause the flapto pass over the moistening device.

15. The combination with a feeding mechanism having a feeding element ofless width than the envelopes fed thereby and arranged to cooperate withthe envelope near the flap edgeihereof, of means providing a space toone side of the feeding element in which the body of the envelope maydrop, a moistening device supported at one side of the space, extendingacross the space to pass between the flap and the body of the envelopetravelling with said feedmg element, and means arranged beyond themoistening device to pick up the body of theenvelope from the space tofeed the envelope from the machine.

16. The combination with a feeding element, of a moistening devicearranged to pass between the flap and the body of an envelope travellingwith said feeding element, and a movable means cooperating with the flapof the envelope at spaced points after the flap has passed themoistening device-in order to press the flap into engagement with thebody of the envelope. v

17. The combination with a feeding element, of a moistening devicearranged to pass between the flap and the body of an envelope travellingwith said feeding element, and a movable means cooperating with the flapof the envelope at spaced points after the flap has passed themoistening device in order to press the flap into engagement with thebody of the envelope, said means comprising a rotary member havingspaced impact surfaces.

toward and from the feeding device, an adjusting meansfor moving the armon its fulcrum to 'vary the distance between the moistening device andthe feeding element, anda yieldin device which permits the movement of te arm away from a feeding element.

19. The combination with a feeding element, of a moistening arm arrangedto pass ment, and resilient means opposing the move-,

ment of themoistening device away from the feeding element.

21. The combination with a feeding element of less width than theenvelope fed therebyand arranged to cooperate with an envelope near theflap edge thereof, of means providing a space to one side of the feedingelement in which the body of an envelope may drop while being moved bythe feeding element, a moistening device arranged to pass between theflap and the body of the envelope travelling with said feeding element,a separator extending rearwardly from the moistening device and having aportion extending downwardly therefrom to one side of the feedingelement and over the space in order to deflect the body of the envelopedownwardly below the moistening device and the flap of the envelopeupwardly above the moistening device, and means for supporting said armso that it may be shifted to vary the distance between the downwardly defleeting portion of the separator and the feeding element in order toaccommodate said separator to envelopes having flaps of differentformation.

22. The combination with a moistening device, of a feeding member formoving an envelope past the moistening device and means cooperatin withthe flap side of the envelope after t e latter has passed the moisteningdevice to press the flap at se arated points in order to cause adhesionetween the flap and the body of the envelo e.

23. The combination with a moistening evice, of a feeding member formoving the envelope past the moistening device, and a member havingspaced portions for engaging the flap of the envelope after the latterhas passed the moistening device to press the ap against the body of theenvelope.

24, The combination with an endless feedin element of less width thanthe envelope fe thereby and arranged to cooperate with the underside ofan envelope near the flap edge thereof, of means providing a space atone side of the feeding element into which the body of an envelope maybe dropped while being moved by the feeding element, a moistening devicearranged to pass between the flap and the body of the envelo travellingwith said endless feeding e ement, a rotary feeding member arranged atone side of the endless feeding element to lift the body of the envelopefrom the space after the moistening device has been passed, and a rotarymember cooperating with the upper surface of the envelope while it is onthe two feeding elements and after it has passed the moistening deviceto hold the envelopes in engagement with the two feeding elements.

25. The combination with an endless feeding element of less width thanthe envelope fed thereby and arranged to cooperate with the underside ofan envelope near the flap edge thereof, of means providing a space atone side of the feeding element into which the body of an envelope maybe dropped while being moved by the feeding element, a moistening devicearranged to pass between the flap and the body of the envelopetravelling with said endless feeding element, a rotary feeding memberarranged at one side of the endless feeding element to lift the body ofthe envelope from the space after the moistening device has been passed,and a rotary member cooperating with the upper surface of the envelopewhile it is on the two feeding elements and after it has passed themoistening device, said rotary element being mounted to turn about anaxis which is slightly inclined to the plane of travel of the body ofthe envelope and also slightly inclined to a transverse plane throughthe machine so that said roller tends to straighten the course of theenvelope.

26. In an envelope sealing machine, the combination with a guide, of afeeding device arranged on one side of an envelope and movable to carrythe envelope along the so as to produce a dragging action on the flap ofthe envelope.

27. In an envelope sealing machine, the combination with a feedingmechanism, of

a moistening device having a finger arranged topass between the envelopeflap and the body of the envelope, and supporting means for themoistener adjustable to permit the moistening device to move in thedirection of the line of feed of the envelopes to shift the position ofthe flap separating finger.

28. In an envelope sealing machine, the combination with a feedingmechanism, of a flap se arator for passing between the flap and the odyof the envelope moved by the feeding mechanism, and supporting means forthe fla separator adjustable toward and from the eedmg mechanism andalso lon itudinally of the feeding movement to shift the flap separatorto the desired position.

29. In an envelope sealing machine, the combination with a feedingmechanism, of a flap separator for passing between the flap and the bodyof the envelope moved by the feeding mechanism, and supporting means forthe fla separator adjustable toward and from the eeding mechanism andalso longitudinally of the feeding movement to shift the flap separatorto the desired position, said supporting means havin its point ofadjustment situated at that si e of the envelopes opposite-the flapseparator.

- ing the latter at one side of the envelope moved by the feedingmechanism, and three independently adjustable suspendin devices arrangedin the form of a triang e and.

on which the support is adjustably and loosee -si of an envelope maydrop in order to sepa-' 1y fulcrumed so that the adjustment of any onesuspension device causes the movement of the support on all of thesuspension devices. v

31. The combination with a feeding mechanism having a feeding element ofless width than the envelope fed thereby and arranged to cooperate withan envelope near the flap d(ge thereof, means providing a space to one eof the feeding element in which the body rate the body of the envelopefrom the flap, and a separator having a portion deflected downwardly toone side of a feeding element over said space to cooperate with the bodyof the envelope to move the latter downwardlg h 32. e combination with afeeding mechanism having a feeding element of less width than theenvelope fed thereby and arran ed to cooperate with an envelopene'ar theap edge thereof, of a flap separator arranged to pass between the flapand the body of an envelope. travelling w1th said feeding element, andmeans providing a space to one side of the feeding element in whichthebody of an envelope may drop in order to separate the body of theenvelope from the flap to facilitate the passage of the flap separatorbetween the flap and the body of the envelope.

33. The combination with afeeding element, of a flap separator arrangedto pass between the flap and body of .an envelope travelling with saidfeeding element, and amovable means cooperating w1th the flap of theenvelope at spaced points after the flap has passed the flap separatorin order to press the flap into engagement with the bod of the envelope.

34. The combination with a feeding mechanism, of a flap separator formoving the flap of an envelope moved by the feeding mechanism, a supportfor the flap separator of the horizontal= plane of the flap separatorand being adjustable horizontally, two of said suspension devices beingarranged in a single horizontal plane and the third being arranged in adifferent horizontal plane and in a vertical plane between the two firstmentioned suspension devices.

35. The combination with a feeding mechanism, of a flap separator formoving the flap of an envelope moved by the feeding mechanism, a supportfor the flap separator, and three suspension devices arranged in a tri-.angle and each having the support for the flap separator fulcrumedthereon.

36. The combination with a feeding mechanism, of a flap separator formoving the flap of an envelope moved by the feeding mechanism, a supportfor the flap separator, three suspension devices arranged in a-triangleand each having the support for the flap separator fulcrumed thereon,and resilient means opposing such fulcruming action.

37. The combination w1th a feeding mechanism, of a flap separator formoving the flap of an envelope moved by the feeding mechanism, a supportfor the flap separator, and

means for suspendingthe support for movement toward and from theenvelopes on the feeding mechanism andalso in the direction of the lineof feed of the envelopes by sald feeding mechanism,'said means beingadjust-' able to roperly position the flap separator with re erence tofeeding mechanism, and said means having resilient means therein forresiliently holding the flap separator in its adjusted position. ARTHURJ. KEISER.

